Day 205—We are in the seventh month of Bible reading. Praise God! Today, we continue to read in Isaiah.

    Day 205 – Isaiah 35 – 36. (A beautiful song pointing to the eventual return of the remnant of God’s people, also the story of an Assyrian captain and his army versus the LORD and Hezekiah begins)

Chapter 35. “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Be strong; fear not! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

then shall the lame man leap like a dear, 

and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

For waters break forth in the wilderness

and streams in the desert;

the burning sand shall become a pool,

and the thirsty ground springs of water.”

“And a highway shall be there,

and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;

It shall belong to those who walk on the Way;

even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

But the redeemed shall walk there,

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return

and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

they shall obtain gladness and joy,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

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Chapter 36. tells the story again of 2 Kings 18:13-39 (last Thursday’s read). 

The Rabshakeh (commander of the army) of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came to Jerusalem to “trash talk” against the people closed up by fear in the city. He refused to speak in Aramaic but in Hebrew so all the people on the walls could hear his taunts against King Hezekiah and the LORD.  He challenged the king and his God to try to fight him. He even said he’d make a bet that Assyria would win. 

“Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, saying the LORD will deliver us!  He won’t!  He can’t!  No god can deliver Jerusalem out of my hand!” 

The people were silent as King Hezekiah commanded them.

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(But wait until tomorrow and see Hezekiah’s faith and God’s absolutely amazing response to it in saving Jerusalem. You will hardly believe it!!!)